Automatic chemical analysis apparatus

ABSTRACT

An automatic chemical analysis apparatus having separate closedlooped conveyors for sample and reactant containers. At a fixed location, sample portions from a given sample are transferred to a serial sequence of reactant containers. Colourimetric testing is arranged such that all of the reactant products of the given sample are tested simultaneously. Sample and reactant products identification are obtained at the time the reactant containers are at the colourimeter station, at which time the sample container is at a variably positioned identification station, the position being dictated by the number of sample portions being tested for that given sample.

United States Patent 1191 Hoskins et al.

[ AUTOMATIC CHEMICAL ANALYSIS APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Douglas Haig lloskins, St. Albans;

Thomas Horne, Wobum Bletchley; Graham Roger Jarman; Arthur William Dunsmore, both of Dunstable, all of England [73] Assignee: Coulter Electronics, lnc., Hialeah,

Fla.

22 Filed: Mar. 14,1973

21 Appl. No.: 341,069

1 1 May 13, 1975 Primary Examiner-R. E. Serwin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Si|verman & Cass, Ltd.

[57] ABSTRACT An automatic chemical analysis apparatus having separate closed-looped conveyors for sample and reactant containers. At a fixed location, sample portions from a given sample are transferred to a serial sequence of reactant containers. Colourimetric testing is arranged such that all of the reactant products of the given sample are tested simultaneously. Sample and reactant products identification are obtained at the time the reactant containers are at the colourimeter station, at which time the sample container is at a variably positioned identification station, the position being dictated by the number of sample portions being tested for that given sample.

27 Claims, 34 Drawing Figures PATENIEU um 1 3mm SHEET IBUF 20 SHEET IBM 20 Snu Ru @o H Q mp wwm 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC CHEMICAL ANALYSIS COMPRISING: A FIRST SEQUENTIALLY ADVANCEABLE CONVEYOR FOR CARRYING CONTAINERS HOLDING SAMPLES TO BE TESTED; A SECOND SEQUENTIALLY ADVANCEABLE CONVEYOR FOR CARRYING REACTION TUBES IN WHICH CHEMICAL REACTIONS CAN BE CAUSED TO OCCUR; SAID CONVEYORS DEFINING PATHS WHICH LIE ONE WITHIN THE OTHER; FIRST AND SECOND TRANSFER STATIONS FIXEDLY POSITIONED ALONG YHE PATH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONVEYORS, RESPECRIVELY; TRANSFER STRUCTURE POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID FIRST AND SECOND STATIONS FOR SEQUENTIALLY TRANSFERRING SAMPLE PORTIONS FROM EACH CONTAINER, WHEN IT IS AT SAID FIRST STATION, TO A PREDETERMINED PLURALITY OF THE REACTION TUBES AS THEY ARE MOVED PAST SAID SECOND STATION; APPARATUS CAPABLE OF ADDING DIFFERENT REAGENTS TO EACH OF SAID PLUTALITY OF REACTION TUBES; A PROGRAMMED DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR ADVANCING SAID FIRST CONVEYOR TO PRESENT A NEXT SAMPLE CONTAINER
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which at least one of said conveyors and preferably each said conveyor operates in a horizontally closed loop for carrying its respective containers and tubes in a closed loop.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said testing equipment includes a testing station which sequentially receives all of said plurality of reaction tubes as a group for substantially simultaneous individual testing of the contents thereof.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said transfer structure includes a pipette which comprises a pair of electrically conductive members, one of said pair being a tube through which sample can be drawn from said containers, said members being electrically insulated from each other and mechanically linked to one another so as to be moved as a unit relative to the level of the sample within a sample container and be placed in physical and electrical contact with the sample, said tube member having a lower end which extends a determinable distance beyond that of said other member into the sample, and an electrical conductor connected to each said member; whereby, when said pipette is immersed into the sample said determinable distance, a responsive electric signal can be derived from said conductors.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 which further comprises an identification station for correlation of sample and reaction product identification, such that the test results of each reaction product is identified with respect to its originating sample, said identification station being moveably positionable along the path of and adjacent said first conveyor subsequent to said first transfer station, the position of said identification station being predetermined by the number of reaction tubes in said plurality of reaction tubes for a specific sample, whereby a sample container will have reached said identification station at the same time that all of its associated plurality of reaction tubes will have reached said testing equipment, for simultaneous identification purposes.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises an identification station for correlation of sample and reaction product identification, Such that the test results of each reaction product is identified with respect to its originating sample, said identification station being moveably positionable along the path of and adjacent said first conveyor subsequent to said first transfer station, the position of said identification station being predetermined by the number of reaction tubes in said plurality of reaction tubes for a specific sample, whereby a sample container will have reached said identification station at the same time that all of its associated plurality of reaction tubes will have reached said testing equipment, for simultaneous identification purposes.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said testing equipment is positioned adjacent said second conveyor and is relatively moveable along the path thereof, the positioning of said testing equipment being predetermined and based upon the number of reaction tubes in said plurality of reaction tubes for each specific sample.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said testing equipment includes a testing station which sequentially receives all of said plurality of reaction tubes as a group for substantially simultaneous individual testing of the contents thereof.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises an identification station for correlation of sample and reaction product identification, such that the test results of each reaction product is identified with respect to its originating sample, said identification station being moveably positionable along the path of and adjacent said first conveyor subsequent to said first transfer station, the position of said identification station being predetermined by the number of reaction tubes in said plurality of reaction tubes for a specific sample, whereby a sample container will have reached said identification station at the same time that all of its associated plurality of reaction tubes will have reached said testing equipment, for simultaneous identification purposes.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said testing equipment includes colourimetric testing devices arranged parallel said second conveyor for each of said predetermined plurality of reaction tubes.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which said testing equipment includes a light source and structure for directing the illumination energy of said light source toward the reaction products being tested, whilst directing the heat energy from said light source away from said reaction products.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which said energy directing structure comprises a dichroic reflector.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said dichroic reflector is constructed to transmit energy wavelengths exceeding 1000 nm away from the material to be tested.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises a third sequentially advanceable conveyor for carrying reaction tubes; third and fourth transfer stations fixedly positioned along the path of said first and third conveyors, respectively; a second transfer structure constructed and arranged for transferring at least one sample portion from a container at said third station to at least one reaction tube at said fourth station for subsequent receipt of reagents and testing; and said programmed drive arrangement coordinating the sequential advancing of said third conveyor relative to the advancing of said first conveyor.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 14 in which temperature control structure is provided to establish a temperature difference between the contents in the reactant tubes on said second conveyor with respect to the contents in the reactant tubes on said third conveyor.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15 in which at least one of said conveyors and preferably each said conveyor operates in a horizontally closed loop for carrying its respective containers and tubes in a closed loop.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said transfer structure includes a pipette and translatIon structure for moving said pipette both horizontally between said fixed transfer stations and vertically with respect to said containers and tubes at said transfer stations.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 17 in which said pipette comprises a pair of electrically conductive members, one of said pair being a tube through which sample can be drawn from said containers, said members being electrically insulated from each other and mechanically linked to one another so as to be moved as a unit relative to the level of the sample within a sample container and be placed in physical and electrical contact with the sample, said tube member having a lower end which extends a determinable distance beyond that of said other member into the sample, and an electrical conductor connected to each said member; whereby, when said pipette is immersed into the sample said determinable distance, a responsive electric signal can be derived from said conductors.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 18 in which said conductive members are adjustably linked to one another for varying said determinable distance.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 18 in which said other member also is a tube and surrounds said sample drawing tube for most of its length, except for said determinable distance.
 21. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said testing equipment includes a testing station which sequentially receives all of said plurality of reaction tubes as a group for substantially simultaneous individual testing of the contents thereof.
 22. Apparatus according to claim 21 which further comprises an identification station for correlation of sample and reaction product identification, such that the test results of each reaction product is identified with respect to its originating sample, said identification station being moveably positionable along the path of and adjacent said first conveyor subsequent to said first transfer station, the position of said identification station being predetermined by the number of reaction tubes in said plurality of reaction tubes for a specific sample, whereby a sample container will have reached said identification station at the same time that all of its associated plurality of reaction tubes will have reached said testing equipment, for simultaneous identification purposes.
 23. Apparatus according to claim 21 in which said testing equipment includes a plurality of cuvettes in fixed position, equal in number of the maximum number in said predetermined plurality of reaction tubes, and reaction product transfer structure coupled to said cuvettes for effecting transfer to and from said cuvettes of the reaction products of a said plurality of reaction tubes, substantially simultaneously.
 24. Apparatus according to claim 23 in which said testing equipment is positioned adjacent said second conveyor and is relatively moveable along the path thereof, the positioning of said testing equipment being predetermined and based upon the number of reaction tubes in said plurality of reaction tubes for each specific sample.
 25. For use in an automatic chemical analysis apparatus, a pipette apparatus which comprises a pair of electrically conductive members, one of said pair being a tube through which sample can be drawn from containers, said members being electrically insulated from each other and mechanically linked to one another so as to be moved as a unit relative to the level of the sample within a sample container and be placed in physical and electrical contact with the sample, said tube member having a lower end which extends a determinable distance beyond that of said other member into the sample, and an electrical conductor connected to each said member; whereby, when said pipette is immersed into the sample said determinable distance, a responsive electric signal can be derived from said conductors.
 26. Apparatus according to claim 25 in which said conductive members are adjustably linked to one another for varying said determinable distancE.
 27. Apparatus according to claim 26 in which said other member also is a tube and surrounds said sample drawing tube for most of its length, except for said determinable distance. 